Casket-holder



No. 750,245. i PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904.

' 1G. ARPIN. GASKET HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1903.

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UNITED I STATES Patented January 26, 1904.

GODFREY ARPIN, OF CLARK, SOUTH DAKOTA.

CASKET-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,245, dated- January 26, 1904.

Application filed April 17, 1903- i To call 71 7710711, it nu/y concern.-

Be it known that I, GODFREY ARPIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clark, in the county of Clark and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Oaskct-Holder, of which the following is a specification. l

The invention relates to improvements in casket-holders.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of casket-holders for securing coffins and caskets to the doors of display-cabinets and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient construction of great strength and durability adaptedto be readily applied to the interior or inner face of any display-cabinet door and capable of ready adjustment to clamp coffins and caskets of different sizes and to engage the same at a point above the bottom molding, whereby a coflin or casket may be firmly clamped without injuring the same.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changesin the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is'a perspective view of a portion of a display-cabinet, showing one or the doors provided with a casketholder constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of the foot rest or clamp. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the construction of the adjustable side clamps.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 1 designate a pair of guide bars constructed of suitable material, preferably metal, and secured by screws or other suitable fastening devices to the inner face of a hinged door 2 of a displa cabinet 3 for cofiins and caskets. The bars, which are disposed trans- $erial No. 153,130- (No model.)

, versely of the door near the outer or upper end thereof, are provided with longitudinal slots 4: for the reception of bolts 5 or other suitable fastening devices for securing adjustable brackets 6 to the guide-bars. The bolts 5 are provided at their upper ends with winged nuts 7 and the brackets, which are L- shaped, have slotted arms arranged vertically and horizontally when the door is let down for displaying a casket, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The slot 8 of the lower arm receives the bolt 5, and the slot 9 of the other arm receives a bolt 10, which secures a side clamp '11 to the bracket. The bolt 10 is provided with a winged nut and is adjustable to permit the clamp to be raised and lowered to adjust the same to a position above the bottom molding of a casket. The adjustable connection between the brackets and the guide-bars enables the side clamps to engage caskets of any size, and by clamping the same above the bottom molding there is no liability of accidentally injuring a casket. Each jaw or clamp consists of upper and lower upright portions and an inclined connecting portion and is extended upward and inward, as shown, and-the upperedge 12 is bent outward slightly to present a flat face or substantially a flat face to a casket. Alining 13 of felt, rubber, or other suitable material is provided for each of the side clamps to prevent a casket from being cut, scratched, or otherwise injured. The lower upright portion of the clamp or jaw fits against the inner face of the upright portionof the bracket and is adjustably secured to the same by the means before described.

' A casket is arranged upon the door of the cabinet or case, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l of the drawings, and is clamped at opposite sides by the adjustable side clamps or jaws. The weight of the casket is sustained when the door is closed and in an upright position by means of a foot clamp or rest 1 L, consisting of a transverse bar supported by brackets 15. The foot rest or clamp M, which is provided at its inner face with a lining 16 of felt or other suitable material, has its upper engaging portion inclined when thedoor is arranged in a horizontal position, and the edge 17 is deflected or bent outward, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, to avoid injuring a casket. The brackets 15, which are approximately L- shaped, have lower perforated arms 18, secured by screws or other suitable fastening devices to the inner face of the door 2 and preferably arranged on cleats or bars, as shown in Fig. 1, to secure a construction of great strength. The upwardly-extending arms of the brackets 15 are provided with slots 19 for the reception of bolts 20, which pass through the foot rest or clamp and which are provided with winged nuts. The foot rest or clamp is adapted to be readily raised and lowered to arrange it above the molding at the bottom of a casket. The bars or cleats, upon which the brackets or foot-rest of the clamp are mounted, enable screws of considerable length to be employed for securing the foot-rest to the door without liability of perforating or otherwise marring the outer face of the door. The side clamps do not require a structure of this strength, as they are not subjected to the weight of a casket and merely retain the same in an upright position. The adjusting devices are adapted to be readily operated to permit a casket to be placed on and removed from the door.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with means for engaging the sides of a casket, of a foot rest or clamp comprising a pair of brackets spaced apart, and a bar or jaw capable of vertical adjustment on the brackets, whereby it is adapted to engage a casket above the bottom molding, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with means for engaging the sides of a casket, of brackets arranged at the foot of the casket and provided with upwardlyextending arms, and a transverse bar or jaw connecting the arms and adjustably secured to the same, whereby it is adapted to be arranged above. the bottom molding of the casket, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with means for engaging the sides of a casket, of a pair of L-shaped brackets arranged at the foot of the casket and having upwardly-extending slotted arms, and a bar or jaw connecting the slotted arms and provided with fastening devices operating in the slots, said bar or jaw being inclined inward to clear the bottom molding, substantially as described.

4:. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bracket having an upright portion, of a vertically-adjustable clamp consisting of a lower upright portion adjustably secured to the upright portion of the bracket, an upper upright casket-engaging portion, and an inclined connecting portion inwardly offsetting the upper portion from the said lower portion, whereby the clamp is adapted to engage a casket above the bottom molding, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described comprising a pair of L-shaped brackets capable of adjustment toward and from each other and having upwardlyextending slotted arms, side clamps having fastening devices operating in the said slots, said side clamps being inclined inward to clear the bottom molding of the casket, and a foot rest or clamp, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GODFREY ARPIN.

Witnesses:

C. G. SHERWOOD, LUELLA E. BENNETT. 

